Beer dispensing and carbonating apparatus



J. F. THOMAS ET AL 1,991,264

BEER DISPENSING AND CARBONATING APPARATUS Feb. l2, 1935.

Filed July 27, 195s l 2 sheets-sheet 1 La l l f lanas/C. Rraw.

l wim/Ma Feb. 12, 1935. J. F. THOMAS ET AL 1,991,264

BEE'RDISPENSING AND CARBON/WING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I7 Thama's, (lrawfz.

PatentedA Feb. 12,-193s UNITED STATES BEER DISPENSING AND cmoin'rma APrAnATUs Y Jesse F. Thomas and Claud R. B'own,

New London, Wis.

Application .my caisse, serial No. 682,488

3 Claim.

end thereof below the level of the beer in a barrel,

in order to regenerate the same and render it..

more palatable, since the gas on rising will nec'- essarily be absorbed to a certain extent by the beer.

-The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment. l

In said drawingsz- Figure 1 is a view showing the improved dispensing rod in elevation in connection with a keg suggested in dotted lines;

Figure v2 is a View of the rod, partly broken away to disclose parts in central longitudinal section; t

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is across sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view in elevation, and partly in central longitudinalsection through a modified Figure 7 is-a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the lower end portion of the rod; .w Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7, and

. line 9-l-9 of Figure 7.

tapping fixture having \a nipple 10', winch in the standard xture is equipped with a threaded connection for thesupply of carbonio acid gas -to the top of the keg. According to our invention, an outlet rod or pipe is shown at 12 removably fastened in the fitting, with a space 12'. between the fitting and pipe 12, such space being closed at the top but open at the base of fixture 10. Said outlet rod or pipe for the beer is thus in the nature of an attachment for a fitting such as 10 and capable of being sold separate therefrom. 13 are inlet openings. At the upper end of the pipe 12, a fitting 14 is connected having Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the an outlet or discharge passage 15 for the beer which is controlled by a faucet or cut-off valve 16. Y Ay plug 17 'is telescopically fitted in the lower Vend of the pipe 12 and screw-threaded thereto at 18 is a pipe-19leading to a chamber 20'within l the fitting 14 and held in place by a nut 21 disposed in` said chamber and abutting a gasket 21' interposed between the samegand the fitting. A conventional tap 22 including a normally closed check valve therein is screwthreaded at 23 in the wall of the chamber 20, a gasket'being used at 22'. Through the tap 23 carbonicfacid gas is supplied openingth-e check valv'efandl entering the chamber 20 and thenpassing through the pipe 19 and is discharging through the lower end,of the device, since the pipe 19 communicates with a bore 24 in the plug 17 from which registering ports 25 and 26 lead, beingv respectively provided through the plug 17 and pipe 12. It will be noted that the plug 17 is cut away to provide a passage at 27, registering with the ports 13, and from whichpassages 27 one or more passages 28 pass to the interior of the pipe 12.

In lieu of the usual carbonio acid gas supply fitting at nipple 10', we replace the same with a removable screw-threaded connection 29 which is optionally equipped with a pressure gauge 29* to enable the operator to determine when to'turn on the gasrsupply. Connection 29 also may or may not have automatically opening relief valve 29h to relieve against pressure above a predetermined amount, and also may have a gas connection 29, equipped with a normally closed check valve 2.9d enabling carbonio acid gas to be supplied, if desired, to augment the supply through fitting 22. Instead of using connection 29, vnipple 10'A may be plugged or closed in any desired way.

A cleanout plug 30 is screw-threaded to the iitting 14 against a gasket 30'. i

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 6 to 9. This form embodies an attaching plug 10 similar to that at vIOinivhich a tube 31 is removably fastened and at the top of which a fitting 32, substantially similar to that at 14 is secured. Concentric with thepipeio'r tube 31 is a pipe or tube 33 through which the beer is adapted to be dispensed, passing into a chamber 34 within the tting and out of the 'same through an opening or passage 35 controlled by a valve 36, the tube 33 being secured in the fitting 32 by a nut 37 thereon. Chamberiy is closed by a clean out plug 38. Said pipe 33 at its lower end is screw-threaded asl at`39 ytoa thimble 40 having inlet ports 41 for the iilet of beer.

Carbonic acid gas from any suitable source is supplied to a chamber 42 of the iitting through n a nipple 43, similar to that at 22, it being screwthreaded in place as at 44 and equipped with a normally closed check valve, not shown. The gas passes downwardly in the spaces 45 between the pipes 31 and 33. Such spaces are closed at their lower ends byfa reduced portion 46 on the thimble 40 extending into the same and all of them at their lower ends communicate with an endless groove 47 extending around said reduced portion 46. The passages 45 lead to outlet orifices or ports 48 anclthus the gas supplied thereto. reaches` the beer at the bottom of the keg, so as to rise in the beer and Acarbonate the same. This-form of the invention-'utilizes an open relief valve at 49 like that at 29. v

Various changes may be resortedto, provided they-fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed isz- 1. A device of the class described comprising single iltting, said fitting having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, a pipe extending from one of said p through the other passage, fastening means on the pipe preventing downward displacement from the iitting,and cutting oiT direct communication between the passages, a pipe about the first mentioned pipe in communication with the other passage, means supported by the rst mentioned pipe at` its lower .end in supportingcontact with the second mentionedpipe and ports through one of said pipes and said means for discharge and intake purposes.

2. A device of the class described comprising a single iitting, pipes depending therefrom and spaced one within the other, the innermost pipe being a discharge pipe, fastening means at the upper end of the inner pipe preventing removal thereof downwardly from the fitting, the outermost pipe terminating below the upper end of 'spaced one within the other, the innermost pipe being a discharge pipe, fastening means at the upper end of the inner pipe preventing removal thereof downwardly from the fitting, the outermost pipe .terminating below the upper end of the innermost pipe and providing passages between the' same and the other pipe for the inlet of gas, a thimble extending into and supporting the outermost pipe at the lower end and into which the innermost .pipe is screw-threaded, and said thimble having inlet passages communicating with the interior o1' the innermost pipe, the outermost pipe having outlet portions for gas communicating with the passages between the pipes, valve-controlled outlet means on the it-A ting coacting with the discharge end oi' the in-v nermost pipe, said fitting having a chamber communicating with said passages between the pipes, and an inlet valve structure for the last mentioned chamber.

JESSE F. THOMAS. CLAUD R. BROWN. 

